Half to john m



(No Model.)

W. O. ROBINSON. REOEPTAGLE FOR INKING PADS.

No. 590,499. Patented Sept. 21,1897.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR William/C13 binson 1 PFTFRS cc. Pworoumo WASHINGYON. 11C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

XVILLIAM C. ROBINSON, OF BIG STONE GAP, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN M. GOODLOE AND HENRY O. MCDOXVELL, JR., OF SAME PLACE. v

RECEPTACLE FOR lNKlNG-PADS.

SJPEGIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 590,499, dated September 21, 1897. Application filed July 1, 1897. Serial No. 643,163. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Big Stone Gap, in the county of \Vise and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Receptacles for Inking-Pads and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,-and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in receptacles for inking-pads such as are used for postmarking, printing, and for other purposes with a hand canceling-stamp.

The object of this invention is to provide a box, container, or receptacle for the pad which will hold the same and prevent the edges thereof breaking down, said box also preserving the resilient qualities of the pad.

Prior to my invention it has been proposed to provide an inking-pad with a box or receptacle in which the pad is adapted to be placed,

said receptacle being provided with a cover,

and in some instances the lower portion of the box has been provided centrally with a small aperture designed solely for the purpose of pushing out the pad. Inking-pads as in general use in large establishments, such as express companies or postal service, are made up of a base the material of which is roller composition, the principal ingredients being glue and glycerin or molasses, to which is secured the upper section of the pad, consisting of a piece of thick felt. Such an inking-pad is usually furnished for use without a base or box, as use has shown that there is no advantage in providing a base or box as usually constructed, for in order to preserve the life of the pad it seems to be essential that the roller composition should be allowed to give and should also be exposed to the atmosphere. Asubstantially close box or case for the roller composition results in a rapid deterioration of the pad and the composition becomes hard and loses its elasticity long before the felt is worn out. In order to overcome the objections incident to the ordinary box for the pad, I have designed an improved receptacle which in practice has proved effective; and my in. vention consists in the combination, with a pad for cancelingstamps having a composition base and an upper portion of absorbent material, as felt, of a box or receptacle having vertical side flanges and a bottom portion which is provided with an opening of such a size that it will allow the center portion of the pad to work or move through said opening when struck by the canceling-stamp.

The invention further consists in the combination,with the pad, of a receptacle therefor having an opening in the bottom portion and an upwardly-projecting flange surrounding said opening, so as to retain any oily substance which may collect in the box.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the box or container for the pad. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a portion of the pad within the box or receptacle.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a piece of felt, and B the base, which is made up of roller composition, a pad made up of these two parts being such as is in general use in the post-offices and is furnished to the postmaster by the Post-0flice Department.

The receptacle 0 is preferably made up of sheet metal which is either stamped or spun to present a vertical flange c, a lower or base rim 0, and a bottom portion which projects inwardly and is provided with a raised edge or flange 0 which surrounds the central opening O. The upper end of the vertical flange 0 may be turned upon itself to present a bead 0 which gives a finish to the upper edge, and the flange 0 may extend downwardly so as to be flush with the horizontal portion of the base adjacent thereto. If desirable, the parts may be made up of two pieces of metal, one piece constituting the base and the other the rim. It will be noted that the base is positioned so as to be at a considerable distance above the lower edge of the rim, and the function of the upturned edge of the aperture is to prevent any oil or liquid which may find its way into the receptacle either from the ink used or from the roller composition exuding.

By having the edge surrounding the opening bent downwardly, as shown at the center portion of the pad will not engage therewith when depressed by being struck or forced downwardly by the canceling-stamp,

v and when struck the center of the pad will engage with the table.

A canceling-stamp pad placed in a box of ordinary construction deteriorates rapidly near its center, and the roller composition being held against expansion soon loses its life or elasticity and forces the composition out beyond the edges of the felt or causes it to dry and become hardened, so that the pad in said bottom having an aperture therein of such an area that the composition base of the pad at its center may be forced below said aperture, for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a canceling-pad having a composition base and an absorbent surface attached thereto, of a box having vertical sides, a bottom secured above the lower edge of said side and a central aperture, the bottom being bent upwardly surrounding the aperture, substantially as shown and for'the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with an inking-pad consisting'of a roller composition and any inkabsorbent surface, of a box or receptacle having'sides, the height of which is substantially the same as the thickness of the roller composition, a circumferential rim below the sides, a base or bottom portion above the said rim having the central portion cut away, said base being bent to'provide an upwardly-projecting portion whichconnects with a downwardly-projecting portion, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM C. ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

S. L. WHITEHEAD, L. A. PRICHARD. 

